U.S. patent application number 12/983305 was filed with the patent office on 2013-04-11 for open-side bracelet with frame for watch.
The applicant listed for this patent is Teresa Teixeira. Invention is credited to Teresa Teixeira.
Application Number | 20130088943 12/983305 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48041996 |
Filed Date | 2013-04-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130088943 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Teixeira; Teresa |
April 11, 2013 |
OPEN-SIDE BRACELET WITH FRAME FOR WATCH
Abstract
A rigid bracelet has a side opening for sliding the bracelet
onto the wrist and an open frame on one end of the bracelet for
housing and displaying a watch face through the frame. The watch
rests on a top center of the wrist with the side opening extending
from the open frame to an opposite end of the frame positioned
partway up a side of the wrist of the wearer but not visible when
looking at the watch face. The watch works and the watch face are
removable from the frame.
Inventors: |
Teixeira; Teresa; (Stockton,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Teixeira; Teresa |
Stockton |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
48041996 |
Appl. No.: |
12/983305 |
Filed: |
January 1, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
368/282 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G04B 37/1486 20130101;
G04B 45/0069 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
368/282 |
International
Class: |
G04B 45/00 20060101
G04B045/00 |
Claims
1. A bracelet watch device with a side opening and interchangeable
watch elements, the device comprising: a bracelet comprising a
rigid bracelet encircling a portion of a wrist of a wearer, a watch
receiving frame built into one end of the bracelet, means for
retaining a watch in the frame, the frame positioned over a center
of a top portion of the wrist; the bracelet further comprising a
rigid arm having a partial top arm portion extending from the frame
to a first side of the wrist, a side arm portion extending around
the first side of the wrist, a bottom arm portion extending across
a bottom portion of the wrist, and an end arm portion extending
partway up a second side of the wrist leaving a bracelet side
opening between the frame and the end arm portion, so that the
bracelet slides onto the wrist through the bracelet side opening
from the first side of the wrist until the first side of the wrist
contacts the side arm portion of the bracelet and the with the end
arm portion extending partway up the second side of the wrist to
hold the bracelet on the wrist of the wearer; a watch fitting into
the frame with a face of the watch visible through a front of the
frame and a back of the watch accessible through a back of the
frame, at least a portion of the watch being replaceable, thereby
forming a bracelet watch device with a side opening and
interchangeable watch elements.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein the frame has a back opening to
receive the watch inserted through the back of the frame and the
means for retaining the watch in the frame comprises a peripheral
ridge extending from the front of frame inwardly into a portion of
the front frame opening to prevent the watch from passing through
the front frame opening and at least one mating pair of snap
engaging elements between the watch and an interior surface of the
frame to retain the watch removably therein with a snap fit, so
that the watch is removable and replaceable in the frame.
3. The device of claim 1 wherein at least a peripheral portion the
watch and the band are each fabricated of metal and the watch is
soldered to the frame for a permanent watch in the watch
bracelet.
4. The device of claim 1 wherein the watch has a top knob for
adjusting the time on the watch and the frame has a notch in the
top of the frame for receiving the top knob of the watch
therein.
5. The device of claim 4 wherein the watch is a wind-up watch and
the top knob is also used for winding the watch, so that the top of
the frame at the notch is structured to permit the knob to be
lifted up for adjusting the time and down for winding the
watch.
6. The device of claim 1 wherein the face of the watch is removable
and replaceable for changing the watch face type.
7. The device of claim 1 wherein the watch is a battery powered
watch having the battery compartment in the back so that the back
opening of the frame allows a wearer to replace the battery in the
watch through the back of the frame.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not Applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable.
THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0003] Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] 1. Field of the Invention
[0005] The present invention relates to jewelry bearing time pieces
and in particular to a rigid bracelet having a side opening for
sliding the bracelet onto the wrist and an open frame on one end of
the bracelet for housing and displaying a watch face through the
frame which rests on a top center of the wrist with the side
opening extending from the open frame to an opposite end of the
frame positioned partway up a side of the wrist of the wearer but
not visible when looking at the watch face exposing a top and part
of one side of the wrist on one side of the framed watch.
[0006] 2. Description of Related Art Including Information
Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98
[0007] Jewelry has been worn since the beginning of civilization
and some form of jewelry body adornment is greatly sought after in
most societies today. While wrist watches are made and worn with a
few different styles of watch bands, the bands normally encircle
the entire wrist or if they have an opening in the bracelet, the
opening is usually centered on the bottom of the wrist with the
watch face centered on the top of the wrist so that the band covers
both sides of the wrist and the opening is not visible when looking
at the watch face. The watch itself is normally the main feature
and the watch band a secondary functional feature. The prior art
lacks a stylish bracelet having a side opening so that only the
watch face is centered on top of the wrist with no band extending
or visible on one side of the watch face.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. D480,653, issued Oct. 14, 2003 to Lo, is for
the ornamental design for a bangle or cuff-style wrist watch with a
side opening.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 2,189,096, issued Feb. 6, 1940 to Alonge,
claims a watch bracelet which comprises a bracelet with an aperture
for removably holding a watch.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 4,060,185, issued Nov. 29, 1977 to Kuroda,
puts forth a band for a wrist-watch adapted to fit the arm of a
user comprising a thin elastic metal plate having front and rear
surfaces and first and second ends, a mounting hole through said
metal plate adapted for mounting said wrist-watch behind said
mounting hole with the back of the watch adjacent to said rear
surface and the face of said watch protruding partly through said
mounting hole, the ends of said metal plate forming a wrist
encircling portion for the arm, and the metal plate being one
piece, resilient material bonded to the rear surface of said wrist
encircling portion, and said resilient material being wider than
said wrist encircling portion whereby said resilient material
protrudes outward beyond the side edges of said wrist encircling
portion, and the front surface of said metal plate being
exposed.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 3,968,643, issued Jul. 13, 1976 to Curtil,
concerns a wristwatch case and wristlet assembly comprising a
molded plastic wristwatch case which has a rear face with a flat
peripheral shoulder and a protruding back having horns, which fits
on a complementary central case-receiving part of a plastic
wristlet also molded in a single piece.
[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 4,958,279, issued Sep. 18, 1990 to Proellochs,
provides an assembly comprising a bracelet in special spring steel,
adjustable by individual shaping on every wrist, and comprising a
circular hole in its flat central part.
[0013] Three U.S. Pat. No. D511,978, issued Nov. 29, 2005, U.S.
Pat. No. D513,997 issued Jan. 31, 2006, and U.S. Pat. No. D512,921
issued Dec. 20, 2005 all to Wilson, are for the ornamental designs
for a watch and a portion of a watch.
[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 7,553,069, issued Jun. 30, 2009 to Gibbons,
indicates a wristband including a strap, the strap being formed
from an elastic textile, wherein the strap defines an orifice, the
orifice configurable to being removably coupled to a housing member
by elastically retracting around the housing member. In a further
embodiment, the housing member further includes any of a timepiece,
a computer, a music player, and a decorative element.
[0015] U.S. Pat. No. 3,492,809, issued Feb. 3, 1970 to
Gisiger-Lusa, claims a wrist-band with an aperture to hold a watch
movement.
[0016] U.S. Patent Application #20080310260, published Dec. 18,
2008 by Segal, claims a modular watchcase having a substantially
hollow protective casing configured to hold a watch mechanism
allowing passage for at least one watch control projection and a
frame member configured to surround the casing and having anchor
elements for the attachment of a watch strap. The frame member
allows passage for the watch control projection, and a bezel ring
is attachable to the enclosure without need of tools for easy
interchangeability of the frame member.
[0017] U.S. Patent Application #20070253290, published Nov. 1, 2007
by Aire, describes a modular wristwatch including a watch case
assembly and a removable watch movement assembly. The watch case
assembly includes an articulating bezel having a first bezel
portion pivotally connected to a second bezel portion that enables
the first bezel portion to move between open and closed
configurations, allowing the watch movement assembly to be moved
into and out from the watch case assembly.
[0018] U.S. Patent Application #20060171261, published Aug. 3, 2006
by Ruchonnet, discloses a wristwatch which is rendered reversible
and interchangeable relative to a holder whereby various wristwatch
movements can be fitted to a single strap, meaning that the watch
can be replaced or reversed quickly without opening the strap or
case. This aim is achieved by means of a device whereby an object
such as a watch case is rendered reversible and interchangeable in
a supporting element that is open on one side so that the
reversible and interchangeable object can be inserted or withdrawn
through said side opening, characterized in that said side opening
is sealed by a portion of the reversible and interchangeable object
that fits snugly onto the open side of the supporting element,
thereby locking same. The device comprises retaining means for
retaining the reversible and interchangeable object within the
supporting element.
[0019] U.S. Pat. No. 5,657,298, issued Aug. 12, 1997 to Choay,
provides a watch with interchangeable elements. The watch comprises
a case containing a movement and a dial, a strap to secure the case
to the wrist as well as an assembly cover adapted to be secured to
the case and the strap. The assembly cover is provided with
reception recesses for the strap and a snap-in connection for the
case. The case in use masks the recesses of the strap. The assembly
cover comprises on opposite sides of its internal surface two side
walls defining openings permitting the passage of the strap.
[0020] U.S. Pat. No. 7,703,974, issued Apr. 27, 2010 to Bouille,
shows a reversible watch comprising at least one reversible and
interchangeable dual dial element including a cavity and a
removable projecting fixing element integral with the bracelet or
other support to be inserted axially parallel or not and to be
moved in parallel with the element to the cavity up to a stop
position and brought by rotation into its fixing position. The
removable fixing element can be made in different embodiments
desired by a user. The device comprises a cavity in the middles
wherein is housed the base of a pivot of the removable fixing
element which is integral with one end of the bracelet, whereby a
rotational motion is imparted to a watch case and to its bracelet,
independently of each other, so as to provide a watch with
interchangeable double dial and a double-sided bracelet.
[0021] U.S. Pat. No. 7,771,112, issued Aug. 10, 2010 to Morgan,
discloses wrist-borne structures (such as watches) which include:
(a) a wrist band assembly defining a recess and a first aperture;
(b) an electronic or mechanical device assembly having a first
control element positioned in the recess so as to be accessible at
the first aperture; and (c) a first user interaction element
engaged with the first control element via the first aperture.
[0022] U.S. Pat. No. 4,627,738, issued Dec. 9, 1986 to Kao,
illustrates a watchcase and watchframe suitable for mating and
unmating one with the other by the use of a sealing means suitable
for slidably translating the case within the frame and providing a
substantially contiguous fit of the case within the frame.
[0023] U.S. Pat. No. 2,219,277, issued Oct. 22, 1940 to Kaufmann,
is for a bracelet which detachably and interchangeably receives
watch casings.
[0024] What is needed is a stylish bracelet having a side opening
so that only the watch face is centered on top of the wrist with no
band extending or visible on one side of the watch face to produce
a similar visual effect of a dress which is strapless on one side
with no apparent support.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0025] An object of the present invention is to provide a stylish
bracelet having a side opening so that only the watch face is
centered on top of the wrist with no band extending or visible on
one side of the watch face to produce a similar visual effect of a
dress which is strapless on one side with no apparent support.
[0026] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
bracelet having a side opening and a watch receiving frame which
receives replaceable watches in the frame and/or replaceable watch
faces to vary the appearance and style of the bracelet watch.
[0027] In brief, the present invention provides a stylish rigid
metal bracelet or bracelet of other material such as plastic or
other material which has a side opening for sliding the bracelet
onto the wrist of the wearer and an open frame on one end of the
bracelet for housing and displaying a watch face through the frame
which frame and watch face rests on a top center of the wrist with
the side opening extending from the open frame to an opposite end
of the frame positioned partway up a side of the wrist of the
wearer but not visible when looking at the watch face.
[0028] An advantage of the present invention is that it easy to put
onto and take off of the wrist of the wearer.
[0029] Another advantage of the present invention is that it is an
attractive bracelet as well as a watch.
[0030] One more advantage of the present invention is that the
watch itself and/or the watch face may be removed to be replaced
with watches and watch faces having different functions and
applications and different appearances and styles.
[0031] An additional advantage of the present invention is that the
bracelet leaves a portion of the wrist of the wearer exposed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] These and other details of my invention will be described in
connection with the accompanying drawings, which are furnished only
by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention, and
in which drawings:
[0033] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the open-sided bracelet
jewelry watch of the present invention showing the face of the
watch in the end frame of the bracelet;
[0034] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the open-sided bracelet
jewelry watch of FIG. 1 showing the back of the watch in the end
frame of the bracelet;
[0035] FIG. 3 is a front watch face view of the open-sided bracelet
jewelry watch of the present invention showing the face of the
watch in the end frame of the bracelet;
[0036] FIG. 4 is a back bracelet view of the open-sided bracelet
jewelry watch of the present invention showing a portion of the
back of the watch in the end frame of the bracelet;
[0037] FIG. 5 is a top edge view of the open-sided bracelet jewelry
watch of the present invention showing the top of the partially
encircling bracelet;
[0038] FIG. 6 is a bottom edge view of the open-sided bracelet
jewelry watch of the present invention showing the bottom of the
partially encircling bracelet;
[0039] FIG. 7 is a front watch face view of the open-sided bracelet
jewelry watch of the present invention showing the bracelet worn on
the wrist of a user with the watch face visible in the frame and
showing a portion of the bracelet on one side and a portion of the
top of the wrist and a portion of the side of the wrist exposed
through the side opening in the bracelet on the other side of the
watch face;
[0040] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the open-sided bracelet
jewelry watch of the present invention showing the face of the
watch removed from the front of the watch in the end frame of the
bracelet;
[0041] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the open-sided bracelet
jewelry watch of the present invention showing the entire watch
removed from the back of the end frame of the bracelet.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0042] In FIGS. 1-9, a bracelet watch device 10 has a side opening
21 and interchangeable watch elements 30 fitting removably in a
watch receiving frame 26 at one end of the bracelet.
[0043] The bracelet comprises a rigid bracelet 20 encircling a
portion of a wrist of a wearer, as shown in FIG. 7, leaving an
exposed portion of the wrist from the centrally positioned watch
face to one side of the wrist. A watch receiving frame 26 is built
into one end of the bracelet and comprises means for retaining the
watch in the frame. The frame 26 and the framed watch face 32 are
positioned over a center of a top portion of the wrist. The
bracelet further comprises a rigid arm having a partial top arm
portion 24 extending from the frame 26 to a first side of the wrist
of the wearer, a side arm portion 23A extending around the first
side of the wrist, a bottom arm portion 23B extending across a
bottom portion of the wrist, and an end arm portion 22 extending
partway up a second side of the wrist leaving a bracelet side
opening 21 between the frame 26 and the end arm portion 22, so that
the bracelet slides onto the wrist through the bracelet side
opening 21 from the first side of the wrist until the first side of
the wrist contacts the side arm portion 23A of the bracelet and the
with the end arm portion 22 extending partway up the second side of
the wrist to hold the bracelet on the wrist of the wearer.
[0044] The watch 30 fits into the frame 26 with a face 32 of the
watch visible through a transparent face cover 33 through the front
of the frame 26, as shown in FIG. 1, and a back of the watch 37
accessible through a back of the frame 26, as shown in FIG. 2. At
least a portion of the watch 30 is replaceable, thereby forming a
bracelet watch device 10 with a side opening 21 and interchangeable
watch elements.
[0045] In FIG. 9, the watch 30 is inserted through the back of the
frame 26 and the means for retaining the watch in the frame
comprises a ridge 27 extending from the front of frame into a
portion of the front frame opening to prevent the watch from
passing through the front frame opening and at least one mating
pair of snap engaging elements 28 and 38 between the watch and an
interior surface of the frame to retain the watch removably therein
with a snap fit, so that the watch 30 is removable and replaceable
in the frame 26 to allow for a variety of types and styles and
colors of watches. The snap engaging elements 28 and 38 may be
mating protrusions and detents for connecting the watch 30 in FIG.
9 and for connecting the watch face 32 in FIG. 8.
[0046] The watch 30 may be permanently attached to the frame 26 by
soldering or welding the watch 30 to the frame 26 for a permanent
watch 30 in the watch bracelet 20. In FIG. 8, a permanently
attached watch 30 has a removable face 32 and watch hands 31 and
transparent cover 33 to allow changing just the face 32 of the
watch in the bracelet 26 for various effects and styles and colors.
A connecting element 39 in the center of the watch 30 removably
receives a mechanism from the center of the hands 31 to connect the
hands with the operating mechanism of the watch. It may be a shaft
and gear mechanism.
[0047] In FIG. 1, the watch 30 may have a top knob 34 for adjusting
the time on the watch and the frame 26 have a notch 25 in the top
of the frame for receiving the top knob of the watch therein. For a
wind-up watch, the top knob 34 is also used for winding the watch,
so that the top of the frame at the notch is structured with an
extra recess to permit the knob to be lifted up for adjusting the
time and down for winding the watch.
[0048] The watch 30 may be a battery powered watch 30 having the
battery compartment 35 in the back 37 so that the back opening of
the frame allows a wearer to replace the battery in the watch
through the back of the frame, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 9.
[0049] A wide variety of types of materials may be used from
precious metals and expensive elegant watch components to stainless
steel to synthetic material, such as plastic, and colorful
bracelets and watch components to suit a variety of types of users
including children. While the watch shown has hands a mechanical
movement controlled by the watch knob, it is understood that it may
be a digital watch.
[0050] The bracelet is preferably black finished metal and the face
black with white hands to create a desired design look. The
bracelet watch slips over the wrist through the side opening in the
bracelet.
[0051] It is understood that the preceding description is given
merely by way of illustration and not in limitation of the
invention and that various modifications may be made thereto
without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.
* * * * *